MRSA -- a Communicable Disease

MRSA -- a Communicable Disease

Hospital-acquired infections cause a major concern that threatens patient treatment, hospital staff, and community health. The article presented by Sarah Fairclough highlights the hazard of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as it responsible for one-fifth of all hospital-acquired infections, and represents a significant problem in the medical community (2006). The threat of MRSA infections is severe as MRSA is growing in treatment resistance to antibacterial medications, and Fairclough describes rationale behind resistance in these stains. Hospital-acquired infections, such as MRSA and antibiotic resistant stains of MRSA, lengthen hospital stays, cause significant morbidity, affects nurses' workloads, and can introduce new infections into the community (Fairclough, 2006). Eradicating MRSA seems to be impossibility, however attempts to control the spread of MRSA are encouraged by Fairclough as giving attention to the following factors: detecting and isolating infected or colonized patients, rational antibiotic prescribing, hand hygiene and cleanliness. Taking these measures will not eliminate MRSA, but a comprehensive approach to reduce the risk of MRSA infection is required to decrease its rate of incidence and mortality.

Accounting for 20% of all hospital-acquired infections, MRSA affects the health of patients, the threat of infection within a community, and the workload of nurses and medical personnel. The increased resistance to antibacterial treatments intensifies the risk of MRSA infection, and Fairclough, like many other professionals, describe the resistance as a consequence of evolutionary action (2006). Health administrators are urged to recognize the reproductive cycle of bacteria as much shorter than humans, and therefore bacteria able to adapt to hostile environments (in this case, antibacterial medication) faster, and increases the rate of resistant infections (Fairclough, 2006). Bacteria that develop resistant traits then pass these traits to their offspring, resulting in antibiotic resistant strains of MRSA and other bacterial infections. The incidence of MRSA within the hospital setting is also reflected in the community. In the UK, common strains are found in the hospital and in the community, and could be explained by interactions between patients, visitors, and hospital staff (Fairclough, 2006). In the U.S., however, Fairclough explains different MRSA strains have initiated in the community, which are then traced back to hospitals and long-term care facilities (2006).

One in six patients in intensive care units are colonized or infected with MRSA, which signifies not only the prevalence of this health risk, but the impact on the nurses' workload. Antibiotic resistant MRSA increases mortality and postoperative stay; the number of death certificates mentioning MRSA increased by 19% between 2002 and 2003, and postoperative stays were a mean of 8.5 for those without MRSA, and 17.9 days for those with MRSA (Fairclough, 2006). Nurses are consequently attending to more patients for longer periods of time and are exposed to greater infectious risk. Hospital administrators must assess the burden on clinical and managerial staff, as well as the economic and financial implications of prolonged treatment for patients.

Reducing the incidence of MRSA requires a comprehensive approach to the infection as no single entity can eradicate the bacteria. Fairclough explains the most obvious and immediate measure that needs to be taken again MRSA and other bacterial infections is the practice of thorough cleanliness (2006). Hand washing and hand hygiene is critical, as MRSA can spread from contaminated surfaces, and hands are the most important vectors for MRSA (Fairclough, 2006). MRSA must also be promptly detected in patients, and then isolated from others. Rational antibiotic prescribing could be more effective for the prevention of future problems, as higher rates of antibiotic use increases the probability of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.